Bowling ball



Aug 6,, 19400 F. M. DAR

BOWLING BALL Filed March 16, 1940 @j 52 ii [a 25 IN VENTOR.

Z0 Wan/6M Dal/13y,

patented Aug. 6, 1940 t v Sir-iii h ,TENT OFFICE- BOWLING BALL Frank M.Darby, Chicago, 111.

Application March 16, 1940, Serial No. 324,273

Claims. (01. 273--63) My invention relates toplaying balls and parfor ashort distance. The lower end of the tube ticularly to bowling balls ofthe type adapted for is closed by a transverse Well having an p use inplaying ten pins. ing to receive the shank of a screw I8. Means Balls ofthis character are provided with two u h as the W h r n p n 9 y e emplo.5 or more i l Openings, one for th th b Zi for anchoring the screwagainst longitudinal 5 one, or in some cases two, for the fingers. Whilemovement, but permitting its I'0tati0n- A e little attention is paid tothe size of the openings ed portion 20 of the screw engages a threadedfor the fingers, the diameter of the opening for .nut 28 perma t y d inthe narrow portion the thumb is of great importance. The fit should i iO the Op t Will be seen that y rotating 10 be such that the thumb maymove smoothly in the Screw the Sleeve y e v d p dOW-h' 10 and out; thatis to say, exactly the right frica de e tional resistance should beprovided and this can The space nte v between the portions be changed byvery slight variations in the effec- 3 0 e Opening is inclined, asindicated tiv'e diameter of the thumb hole, at 2 2, and the upper end ofthe sleeve is flared,

This required accuracy of fit results in diffi as at to correspond tothe incline of the culties in use, due to expansion and contractionWall. Thus the Sleeve is forced d w wa d y of the solid material of theball, the humidity actu e sc e e fect v diame er of of the surroundingair, as reflected in perspirahe pe ng W e e it engages the c e O thtion, and other features, all of which makes it thumb may be lessened toa desired extent. In

desirable to provide for relatively slight varias- 1 a d 2 e S ee is s Wat i s pI-e 90 tions in the effective diameter of the opening. limit;that is at the po n f greatest d e 0f v To that end I have provided verysimple means the Sleeve. adapted for operation by a flat tool, such as aIn the construction of Fig. 2 the screw 20 screw driver, wherebyadjustments may be efect y g e a t aded pe n e fected within the spaceof a few seconds in order material of the balLrather than a nut seated25 to compensate for changes in the described conin the body of theball. ditions. I In the construction of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the Themechanism adapted to function in the deslots is are arranged radially ofthe sleeve. As scribed manner is illustrated in the accompanyshown inFig. 4 I may prefer to arrange the slots ing drawing; in which, 7 led ata tangent and to round the inner corners,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view through. thereby lesseningpossible damage to the skin on a bowling ball, showing my improvementapplied the knuckle of the user.

thereto; Apparatus such as described is entirely con- Fig. 2 is asimilar view in elevation; cealed within the body of the ball and thusFig. 3 is an upper end view of the sleeve shown cannot be damaged inuse. By the use of sleeves 35 in Figs. 1 and 2; and, I of differentdiameters a wide range of thumb- Fig. 4 is a similar view of a sleevehaving slots hole diameters may be provided, thus enabling arranged in aslightly different manner. the manufacturer to provide all balls with aA bowling ball is indicated at it, usually cornstandard size opening.However, the most im- 40 posed of a hard and dense composition material.portant advantage is to theuser, who may vary 46 A radial opening isbored in the ball, the openthe size of the thumb-hole as occasionrequires. ing, as shown in Fig. 1 having three diameters It is obviousthe same result may be secured ll, I2, and 13. In the outer portion isof the by boring the ball opening of uniform diameter opening I seat athimble l6, preferably located from end to end, then fixing therein aunit having permanently in place, since the size of the outer the sleeveand inclined surfaces for varying the portion of the thumb hole is notof great irndiameter of the sleeve in the manner described. portance. Itwill be understood, of course, that This and other modifications areconsidered to be the effective size ofthis portion may be varied withinthe scope of my invention. by replacing the thimble with one of adifferent I l i 50 size. 1. A bowling ball having a radially arranged 50Y The in erme ia portion I 2 of h p n opening, the diameter of the innerportion oi ceives a sleeve or tube is, composed of somewhat the openingbeing less than that of the outer resilient mater a the pp pertien Ofwhich is portion, the portions of different diameters being pr vi w hnumerous li is e n n T njoined by an inclined area, a slitted sleeve inM gitudinally inward from the open end of the tube the smaller portionof the opening and having a tapered portion engaging said inclined area,and means for positively moving said sleeve axially of the openingwhereby to vary the diameter of the sleeve, due to sliding cooperationbetween the inclined surfaces on the sleeve and the ball.

2. A bowling ball having a radially arranged opening, the diameter ofthe inner portion of the opening being less than that of the outerportion, the portions of different diameters being joined by an inclinedarea, a slitted sleeve in the smaller portion of the opening and havinga tapered portion engaging said inclined area, a thimble fixed in theouter end of the outer portion of the opening, and means for positivelymoving said sleeve axially of the opening whereby to vary the diameterof the sleeve, due to sliding cooperation between the inclined surfaceson the sleeve and the ball.

3. A bowling ball having an opening of larger diameter at its outer endthan intended for use, and an inner portion of smaller diameter than theouter portion and also larger than intended for use, the two diametersbeing joined by an inclined portion, a slitted resilient sleeve seatedinthe inner portion of the opening and having a tapered portion forengagement with said inclined portion, screw means operating at theinner extremity of the opening for effecting axial movement of thesleeve and consequent expansion and contraction of the efiectivediameter of the sleeve.

4. A bowling ball having an opening of larger diameter at its outer endthan intended for use. and an inner portion of smaller diameter than theouter portion and also larger than intended for use, the two diametersbeing joined by an inclined portion, a slitted, resilient sleeve seatedin the inner portion of the opening and having a tapered portion forengagement with said inclined portion, screw means for operating at theinner extremity of the opening for effecting axial movement of thesleeve andv consequent expansion and contraction of the efiectivediameter 01 the sleeve, and a thimble for contracting the diameter ofthe outer portion of the opening.

5. A bowling ball having an opening of larger diameter at its outer endthan intended for use,

and aninner portion of smaller diameter than the outer portion and alsolarger than intended for use, the two diameters being joined by aninclined portion, a slitted, resilient sleeve seated in the innerportion of the opening and having a tapered portion for engagement withsaid inclined portion, screw means operating at the inner extremity ofthe opening for effecting axial movement of the sleeve and consequentexpansion and contraction of the effective diameter of the sleeve, and athimble independent of the sleeve and fixed in the outer portion of theopening, and immovable relative to the movement of the sleeve.

' FRANK M. DARBY.

